Thankful Family Friends Health / Healthcare A good job A warm bed

Thankful Good food to eat Clean water to drink Nice clothes to wear Access to transportation Access to technology

Thankful Jesus Salvation The Church The Word of God The Holy Spirit

Thankful Prayer Baptism The Lord’s Supper Pastors / Teachers Deacons / Committees

In Part One of the series on Thankfulness we focused on God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the precious gift of salvation.

This week, in honor of Veterans Day, we want to give thanks for our armed forces.

Recognition!

The Word of God is filled with stories of war.

Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.

Exodus 15:4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

Exodus 15:5 The deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

The importance of a strong and prepared military presence continues in Numbers.

Numbers 1:1-4 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of

Numbers 1:1-4 Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male

Numbers 1:1-4 head by head from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

Numbers 1:1-4 With you, moreover, there shall be a man of each tribe, each one head of his father’s household.

Numbers 1:21 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Reuben, were 46,500.

Numbers 1:23 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Simeon, were 59,300.

Numbers 1:25 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Gad, were 45,650.

Numbers 1:27 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Judah, were 74,600.

Numbers 1:29 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Issachar, were 54,400.

Numbers 1:31 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Zebulun, were 57,400.

Numbers 1:33 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Ephraim, were 40,500.

Numbers 1:35 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Manasseh, were 32,200.

Numbers 1:37 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Benjamin, were 35,400.

Numbers 1:39 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Dan, were 62,700.

Numbers 1:41 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Asher, were 41,500.

Numbers 1:43 Their numbered men, of the tribe of Naphtali, were 53,400.

Numbers 1:45-46 So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel, even all the

Numbers 1:45-46 numbered men were 603,550.

It’s amazing what happens when we choose to do things God’s way.

God’s Way All able men from twenty years and up would be trained and ready for battle. Stationed in the very same area their family lives.

God’s Way The people of God and the Holy things of God are well protected. Everyone and everything is prepared for battle.

I Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

I Peter 5:9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

I Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and

I Peter 5:10-11 establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

It’s amazing how there is always a physical and spiritual perspective.

Back to Numbers!

God even gave instructions concerning where the armies should be located and how they should move.

When it was time to break camp half the army would go before and the other half would follow behind.

By the way, if we did things according to God’s instructions, our Southern boarder would already be protected.

Here’s the breakdown from Numbers 1.

Location / Number North = 157,600 South = 151,450 East = 186,400 West = 108,100 Center = Elite force

Did I mention the Southern Boarder?

Can you even imagine 151,450 of our troops protecting the Southern Boarder?

How many would one fourth represent?

Numbers / 2016 Army = 471,271 Navy = 320,101 Air Force = 313,723 Marine Corps = 183,501 National Guard = 450,649

Numbers / 2016 Army Reserve = 306,272 Navy Reserve = 108,864 Air Force Reserve = 104,520 Marine Reserve = 106,581

Numbers / 2016 Active Duty = 1,739,245 Reserve = 626,237 Total = 2,365,482 One Fourth = 591,370.50

What if 591,370 well trained troops protected our Southern Boarder?

It would look a whole lot different than this…

But what if we did things God’s way?

The estimated population in the USA as of today is 328,953,020.

According to Scripture and our last census, approximately 80,000,000 should fall into the category of ready for battle.

Can you imagine 20,000,000 well trained troops that know Jesus as their Lord and Savior protecting our Southern Boarder?

Things that make you go…

Hmmm!

Before we get too excited about the potential numbers, may we always remember the power of God.

Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the wicked forces of this darkness, against spiritual forces of

Ephesians 6:12-13 wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Armor of God Belt of Truth Breastplate of Righteousness Boots of Peace Shield of Faith Helmet of Salvation

Armor of God Sword of The Spirit Clear Communication